“He’s the Best Man I ever Knew or Ever Expect to Know.”

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After the surrender of General Lee, the President, being satisfied that everything would be settled according to his wishes, determined to go to Washington, and I was only too glad to have him go. I had a strong feeling that something would happen to him if he remained longer at City Point. I was so anxious about him that I obtained his permission to send an officer up with him, who was never to leave his side. For this purpose I detailed Lieutenant-Commander John Barnes (the commander of the Bat) to go on board the River Queen, and never to leave the President’s side, even at meals. If I remember rightly, I also sent two ensigns, who were to keep watch over his state-room at night. Directions were given to have the River Queen thoroughly searched before she started, to see if there were any strange men on board, and to arrest and confine any strangers who might be found on the vessel during the passage up. In fact, no precaution was omitted that would insure the President against violence.

The Bat, as already stated, was a very fast vessel. I directed Lieutenant-Commander Barnes to have her run close alongside the River Queen all the way up to Washington, and to have her ready to render assistance in case of necessity. I had not forgotten how the Greyhound had burned up, and how near we had all come to being badly burned, or having to swim for it.

Barnes was further ordered to be armed at all times, night and day, and to hold his position of guard to the President until he landed him safe in the White House.

This duty was performed most effectually and agreeably to the President, who felt very much pleased to have Barnes about him, and made him sit near him at all his meals.

As soon as the President had arrived safely at the White House, Barnes returned to me. I still felt uneasy, and determined to go to Washington myself and see that Mr. Lincoln did not expose himself to the attacks of assassins.

I jumped on board the Tristram Shandy, and directed her commander to put on all steam and land me in Baltimore, thinking I could get to Washington sooner by that route. We arrived early in the morning, and I sent a mate on shore at once to get me a conveyance to the depot. The mate returned in about twenty minutes. His ghastly face told an awful tale ; he could not speak when he came into the cabin, but fell upon the sofa and shook like an aspen-leaf.

“What is the matter with you ?”  I asked, “Be a man and tell me; is the President dead?” My prophetic soul told me that must be so. It was some time before the man could speak. At length he stammered out, “Assassinated!” and then I knew I had come too late. I might, perhaps, have saved his life with my persistent precautions, which he did not at all object to. I should have been about him until all excitement was over, and would have impressed the Cabinet with the necessity of guarding his person. I am not now, and never have been, given to great emotions ; but when I heard of Mr. Lincoln’s cruel death I was completely unmanned.
I went immediately to Washington and saw him as he lay in his grave-clothes ; the same benevolent face was there, but the kindly smile had departed from his lips, and the soft, gentle eyes were closed for ever.

“There,” I said to a friend, “He’s the best man I ever knew or ever expect to know ; he was just to all men, and his heart was full to overflowing with kindness toward those who accomplished his death.” I have been satisfied that the persons who called at the Malvern were some of the assassins who would have killed him there if they could have got on board, and they could easily have escaped in the confusion by jumping overboard and swimming to the shore, which was not more than twenty yards distant. Moreover, I do not think that the prime instigator of the deed was ever suspected, though I have my own opinion on the subject, as also had Senator Nye, that stanch old patriot who held, in the latter part of the war, a position somewhat analogous to that of a minister of police, or was in consultation, by the wish of President Lincoln, with the police authorities of our great cities. He picked up many interesting incidents in relation to the President’s assassination which he talked about freely to me ; but he was a prudent man, and a politician, and did not desire to raise questions -which might affect his personal interests in the future.

Perhaps it was better for Mr. Lincoln’s happiness that he died -when he did. Had he lived, he would likely have been involved in bitter political feuds, owing to his liberal opinions in regard to the reconstruction of the States. He was of too sensitive a nature not to feel the shafts that would have been hurled at him by those whom he thought to be his friends, and he would not likely have been permitted to carry out his ideas. As it was, he died a martyr to a great cause, and venerated by all those who loved the Union;and while the names of many who held high places in the State will be forgotten, the memory of Abraham Lincoln will live in the hearts of his countrymen while the art of printing exists — by which his name can be handed down to posterity.

Quoted in David Dixon Porter, Incidents and Anecdotes of the Civil War, pp. 319

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